“Who gave him the 'authority' to do this?” “He didn't do it 'on his own authority' [=he didn't do it on his own]; he was acting 'under the authority of' the company president.” [=the company president gave him the power to do it]
No one 'in authority' objected to the plan. = No one 'in a position of authority' objected to the plan. [=no one with official power to make important decisions objected to the plan]
This office has 'authority' over personnel matters. [=this office has the power to make decisions about personnel matters]
(..) his youth and enthusiasm would be put to better use there. telephone. In actual fact, Gretel, he was sent there because he failed to inform the authorities of his father's lack of loyalty to the Party. Which was his duty, I might add. - Which was his bad luck. - Bad luck? (..)2008 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas